December Lessons – an end to 2014

On a recent car trip home my husband asked me to tell him a joke, it was four in the morning and he was trying to stay entertained. I couldn’t remember any jokes so thank goodness for mobile phones and the Internet. Since kids were in earshot I found a clean one I could tell him, I thought I would share it with you.

Guy in a library walks up to the librarian and says, “I’ll have a cheeseburger and fries, please.”

While I laughed my head off, my husband just looked at me and rolled his eyes. Needless to say we each have a different sense of humor. I love a good play on words and he likes things that are actually funny.

The point is looking for jokes on our ride home got me thinking how I need to laugh a lot more. So as I reread my 2014 monthly lessons I also noticed that those posts are way too long! So my goal for 2015 is to share a lesson a week – keep it short and sweet and laugh more. And that leads me to today’s post; my December lessons are going to be short and sweet and told through pictures.

1. When life gets tough, throw on some shades and your serious face. If it doesn’t make you laugh someone else will and then all will be right with the world once again.

2. Attitude Counts. My second to youngest son has the best attitude ever. So this lesson I learned from him, always try to see the positive side of things. This day is awesome, this is the best Christmas Tree ever, this is the best cup of ice-cold water ever, this is the best morning ever because really there is always an up side even in the darkest moments. And always say “the best ever” it makes a difference, just a word to the wise.

3. Go see the lights. Even if it is a thirty-five minute drive and a thirty minute wait, go see the lights. Nike really was on to something – Just Do It! Life is short, do what makes you happy.

4. Take the shot. Now you know I am not a fan of the paparazzi life – there is a limit to how many photos you should take, but you do want to take photos here and there because one day they will be a memory for someone else. So when you do take the shot just take it. It doesn’t matter what everyone’s face looks like or if the pose is just right – you captured the memory.

5. Get down there with them.Sometimes when your almost teenage son thinks decorating the Christmas Tree with the family is just a little too much and plops himself down on the floor – get down there with him. Those moments won’t be there for long so take advantage of whatever you can grab.

6. If you must go after the holidays shopping, go in good company.Grandparents are an awesome choice as they spoil the kids silly and you actually can sneak in a little shopping for yourself.

7. Good stories are the best medicine. Read, read and read some more. I loved Anne Lamott’s Help, Thanks, Wow. I am currently reading Small Victories and plan to read Stitches. Her idea of the God Box is something I am going to incorporate into my life. Basically it is a real physical way of giving up what you are frustrated, worried or overly concerned about to God and letting him take over to give you the answer in how to deal with it. This woman is pure poetic genius.

8. Take the trip. Even if you are down and out and would rather do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING over your vacation because you are EXHAUSTED from parenting littles, working outside the home, or just plain living life, take the trip anyway. It does your soul good to get out and about. Plus if you are taking the trip with your people it can heal your soul.

May 2015 bless you with renewed vigor, a little extra patience, more sleep, and only first world problems,

About Me

Michelle is a mom of four hence the name a”four”ytale. On this website you will find her thoughts on motherhood, being a spiritual medium and other life lessons she has learned or re-learned a long the way.